Combined container and closure

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a container of thermo-formed plastic material and a metallic closure, the closure being of a conventional construction and including a plurality of inwardly directed threads, the container having a body terminating in an upper end in a radially outwardly directed shoulder terminating in a downwardly directed peripheral skirt, the latter of which includes a plurality of vertical flutes, whereby upon the snap application of the closure to the container the flutes are deformed by the screw threads forming a self-threaded closure.

United States Patent Curry [151 3,690,503 51 Sept. 12, 1972 [54]COMBINED CONTAINER AND CLOSURE [72] Inventor: John J. Curry, 2926DowningAve.,

Westchester, 111. 60153 [22] Filed: March 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 16,739

[52] US. Cl. ..220/39 R, 215/43 R, 220/42 A, 220/74 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d41/04 [58] Field of Search ...220/42 A, 39 R, 74; 215/43 R; 85/32 V, 35;264/242 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1968 Owen et a]...2l5/43 R X 8/1960 Suellentrop ..2l5/43 9/1970 Ehrbar et al ..220/74Gronemeyer et al. ...220/42 A l'lolton..., ..85/35 Primary Examiner-M.Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-Diner,Brown, Ramik & Holt [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a containerof thermofonned plastic material and a metallic closure, the closurebeing of a conventional construction and including a plurality ofinwardly directed threads, the container having a body terminating in anupper end in a radially outwardly directed shoulder terminating in adownwardly directed peripheral skirt, the latter of which includes aplurality of vertical flutes, whereby upon the snap application of theclosure to the container the flutes are deformed by the screw threadsforming a self-threaded closure.

17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures P'ATE'N'TEDSEP 12 I972 sum 1 or 2 \NVENTURJOHN J. CURRY ATTORNEYS COMBINED CONTAINER AND CLOSURE A primary objectof this invention is to provide a novel closure of a conventionalconstruction and including a plurality of inwardly directed threads, thecontainer having a body formed at an upper end with a radially outwardlydirected shoulder terminating in a downwardly directed peripheral skirt,the outer neck finish of which includes a plurality of vertical flutes,whereby upon the snap application of the closure to the container theflutes are deformed by the screw threads forming a self-thread closure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a peripheral skirtof a wall thickness sufficiently thin to permit the latter to yieldunder its inherent flexibility in a radial outward direction tofacilitate the formation of relatively deep grooves across the flutes ofthe peripheral skirt.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more readily understood ,byreference to the following detailed description, the appended claims andthe several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of acontainer constructed in accordance with this invention with a portionthereof broken away for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1 and moreparticularly illustrates the fluted or knurled periphery of the skirt.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a conventional multi-threaded cap.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the assembled cap andcontainer with a portion thereof broken for clarity, and illustrates themanner in which the threads of the cap form grooves in the flutes of theperipheral skirt.

FIG. 5 is a highly enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an upperportion of the container and an outer periphery of the cap, and moreclearly illustrates the formation of one of the grooves in one of theknurls to form a self-formed helical thread permitting the cap to beremoved by a conventional manual twisting operatron.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a novel container constructedin accordance with this invention is generally designated by thereference numeral 10, and is preferably constructed from thermo-formedinjection molded, blow molded, hot drawn, or similar forming processutilizing polyethylene, polystyrene or similar polymeric or copolymericmaterial. The container includes a generally cylindrical body 11 havingat its upper end an open mouth 12. The upper end of the container body11 includes a radially outwardly directed radius portion 13 terminatingin a downwardly directed peripheral skirt 14 having a terminal edge 15.About the entire circumference of the peripheral skirt 14 are disposed aplurality of flutes, generally designated by the reference numeral 16formed of lands and valleys 17 and 18. The lands and valleys l7 and 18,respectively, are disposed perfectly vertically, but in accordance withthis invention they may likewise be offset to the longitudinal axis ofthe container 10.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, a metallic cap or closure generallydesignated by the reference numeral 20 includes an end panel 21, aperipheral skirt 22 and a radially outwardly upwardly and inwardlyturned curl 23. The peripheral skirt 22 of the closure 20 includes aplurality of inwardly directed conventional threads 24.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 4, the closure or cap 20 is illustratedin assembled relationship upon the container 10. The diametric distanceD is lesser than the diametric distance D1 between the lands l7.Therefore, when the cap 20 is merely pushed downwardly upon theperipheral skirt 14, the latter temporarily deflects inwardly as isillustrated in phantom outline in 'FIG. 5 of the drawing. At this time,the lands 17 of the flutes 16 are in forceful contact with the high sideof the threads 24 and are slightly deformed. Due to the resilientreboundable nature of the material from which the container 10 isconstructed the peripheral flange 14 is continually urged outwardly inthe direction of the unnumbered headed arrow in FIG. 5 to be continuallycausing the material of the lands 17 to be depressed by the more rigidmaterial of the threads 24. Due to this continual inherent force of theperipheral flange l4 tending to return to its nonnal position (FIG. 1)the lands 17 of the flutes 16 are progressively provided with grooves25, as is shown in solid outline, in FIG. 5, thus forming self-threads25 in the lands 17 of the flutes 16.

After the closure is applied, the material of the lands l7 flow into thegrooves or valleys 18 and the material of the skirt 14 sets eithergradually by aging or rapidly under heated conditions to make theself-threads 25 permanent.

When it is desired to eventually remove the closure 20, it is merelynecessary to rotate the same manually in a conventional manner whereuponthe grooves 25, due to the formation thereof into helical threads in themanner heretofore noted, permit the closure 20 to be readily removed andif desired re-applied by a similar twisting operation.

From the foregoing it should be readily noted that though the peripheralskirt 14 is initially devoid of helical threads 25, the same areinherently formed thereon due to the more rigid nature of the threads 24and the reboundable nature of the peripheral skirt 14 which causes theprogressive recession or compression of the plastic material to form thethreads 25. Thus a special forming operation to create threads isunnecessary. Of course, if found necessary or desired sealing compound Smay be provided or as an alternative a liner may be substitutedtherefor.

lclaim:

1. A container having a neck finish particularly adapted forinterlocking engagement with threads of a closure, said neck finishbeing formed with circumferentially spaced and generally axiallyextending groove means for receiving material of said neck finishdeflected by engagement of a closure thread therewith.

,2. The container of claim 1 wherein said neck finish is resilientlyconnected to the remainder of said container.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said neck finish is formed on aseparate skirt hingedly connected to and radially spaced from theremainder of said container.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said skirt is axially coextensivewith other portions of said container.

5. A combined container and closure comprising a container of a singlepiece construction having a neck finish, said neck finish being integralwith and of the same material as said container, said neck finish beingconstructed from deformable material adapted to be self-threading uponthe application of a closure thereto, said closure including an endpanel and a peripheral skirt constructed from material less deformablethan that of said neck finish, said peripheral skirt being internallythreaded and being disposed in external telescopic relationship to saidneck finish, and the threads of said closure being disposed in groovesformed by said threads bearing against and permanently deformingportions of said neck finish.

6. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 5 wherein saidneck finish has a predetermined diameter which is greater than thediametric distance across said closure.

7. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 6 wherein saidcontainer neck finish is defined by a depending peripheral skirt inspaced relationship to a body wall of said container.

8. A method of forming a permanently self-threading container andclosure comprising the steps of providing a container body of a singlepiece construction having a neck finish constructed from deformablematerial and having a predetermined exterior diameter, providing aclosure having an end panel and an interiorly threaded peripheral skirtconstructed from material deformable than that of said neck finish andhaving a diametrical distance across said threads less than saidpredetermined exterior diameter, and applying the clo sure to the neckfinish with the peripheral skirt thereof in external telescopicrelationship to the neck finish whereby the latter becomes permanentlydeformed and self-threaded due to forces applied thereagainst by theclosure threads.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 including the less step of heatingthe neck finish to accelerate the selfthreading thereof.

10. A container of a single piece construction having a neck finish,said neck finish being integral with and of the same material as saidcontainer, said neck finish being of a predetermined originalnondeformed exterior configuration, and permanently deformed means forforming permanent indentation means in portions of said neck finishexterior.

11. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 5 whereinsaid container is defined by a body wall in radially spaced relationshipto a depending peripheral skirt, said depending peripheral skirt definessaid neck finish, and an exterior surface of said depending peripheralskirt includes said grooves.

12. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 1 1 whereinan interior surface of said depending peripheral skirt is devoid of saidgrooves.

13. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 1 1 whereinsaid grooves are threaded.

14. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the provided container bodyis formed to include a body wall in radially spaced relationship to adepending peripheral skirt which defines the neck finish, and anexterior surface of said depending peripheral skirt be m lf-threaded bhe cl sure th ds.

T l ie container as d eiined in claim fs wherein the container isdefined by a body wall in radially spaced relationship to a dependingperipheral skirt, said depending peripheral skirt defines said neckfinish, and an exterior surface of said depending peripheral skirtincludes said grooves.

16. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 15 wherein aninterior surface of said depending peripheral skirt is devoid of saidgrooves.

17. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 15 whereinsaid grooves are threaded.

1. A container having a neck finish particularly adapted forinterlocking engagement with threads of a closure, said neck finishbeing formed with circumferentially spaced and generally axiallyextending groove means for receiving material of said neck finishdeflected by engagement of a closure thread therewith.
 2. The containerof claim 1 wherein said neck finish is resiliently connected to theremainder of said container.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein saidneck finish is formed on a separate skirt hingedly connected to andradially spaced from the remainder of said container.
 4. The containerof claim 3 wherein said skirt is axially coextensive with other portionsof said container.
 5. A combined container and closure comprising acontainer of a single piece construction having a neck finish, said neckfinish being integral with and of the same material as said container,said neck finish being constructed from deformable material adapted tobe self-threading upon the application of a closure thereto, saidclosure including an end panel and a peripheral skirt constructed frommaterial less deformable than that of said neck finish, said peripheralskirt being internally threaded and being disposed in externaltelescopic relationship to said neck finish, and the threads of saidclosure being disposed in grooves formed by said threads bearing againstand permanently deforming portions of said neck finish.
 6. The combinedcontainer and closure as defined in claim 5 wherein said neck finish hasa predetermined diameter which is greater than the diametric distanceacross said closure.
 7. The combined container and closure as defined inclaim 6 wherein said container neck finish is defined by a dependingperipheral skirt in spaced relationship to a body wall of saidcontainer.
 8. A method of forming a permanently self-threading containerand closure comprising the steps of providing a container body of asingle piece construction having a neck finish constructed fromdeformable material and having a predetermined exterior diameter,providing a closure having an end panel and an interiorly threadedperipheral skirt constructed from material less deformable than that ofsaid neck finish and having a diametrical distance across said threadsless than said predetermined exterior diameter, and applying the closureto the neck finish with the peripheral skirt thereof in externaltelescopic relationship to the neck finish whereby the latter becomespermanently deformed and self-threaded due to forces appliedthereagainst by the closure threads.
 9. The method as defined in claim 8including the step of heating the neck finish to accelerate theself-threading thereof.
 10. A container of a single piece constructionhaving a neck finish, said neck finish being integral with and of thesame material as said container, said neck finish being of apredetermined original nondeformed exterior configuration, andpermanently deformed means for forming permanent indentation means inportions of said neck finish exterior.
 11. The combined container andclosure as defined in claim 5 wherein said container is defined by abody wall in radially spaced relationship to a depending peripheralskirt, said depending peripheral skirt defines said neck finish, and anexterior surface of said depending peripheral skirt includes saidgrooves.
 12. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 11wherein an interior surface of said depending peripheral skirt is devoidof said grooves.
 13. The combined container and closure as defined inclaim 11 wherein said grooves are threaded.
 14. The method as defined inclaim 8 wherein the provided container body is formed to include a bodywall in radially spaced relationship to a depending peripheral skirtwhich defines the neck finish, and an exterior surface of said dependingperipheral skirt becomes self-threaded by the closure threads.
 15. Thecontainer as defined in claim 10 wherein the container is defined by abody wall in radially spaced relationship to a depending peripheralskirt, said depending peripheral skirt defines said neck finish, and anexterior surface of said depending peripheral skirt includes saidgrooves.
 16. The combined container and closure as defined in claim 15wherein an interior surface of said depending peripheral skirt is devoidof said grooves.
 17. The combined container and closure as defined inclaim 15 wherein said grooves are threaded.